News release

Boston

Fenway Center Construction slated for early 2018

2018-01-11T06:00:00Z

JLL securs both equity and debt capital

​BOSTON, Jan. 11, 2017 — Joint venture partners Gerding Edlen, TH Real Estate and Meredith Management, have signed a long term ground lease with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for Phase I of Fenway Center. The $240 million mixed-use property spans 4.5 acres and is located between Brookline, Beacon Street, David Ortiz Way and the Massachusetts Turnpike. Construction is scheduled to begin immediately with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for mid-January.

"We are very pleased that this important project for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston will finally be realized," stated Kelly Saito of Gerding Edlen. "Fenway Center's phenomenal location, the vibrancy of the surrounding neighborhood and the continued demand for housing in the Boston market make this a great time to start construction."

"It is extremely gratifying to achieve this milestone for the project," said co-developer John Rosenthal. "I could not have asked for better partners than Gerding Edlen and TH Real Estate to bring Fenway Center to life."

"Fenway Center adds a new dimension to our holdings in the city," said Pamela West, TH Real Estate's Regional Head of Multifamily Transactions, Northeast. "Boston is thriving and remains a target for institutional investors around the globe. The city's live/work environment has attracted companies from the suburbs and increased demand for housing and mixed-use properties, and we are pleased to join our partners on this project."

Frank Petz, head of JLL Capital Markets New England, added "We are pleased to craft the partnership between Gerding Edlen and John Rosenthal, and attract TH Real Estate as an equity investor, and also source construction debt with Sun Trust and ULLICO."

Located adjacent to the revitalized Yawkey Station and Fenway Park, Fenway Center, once fully completed, will create 1,800 new construction jobs, 126 new permanent jobs and more than $2.4 billion in economic impact over 99 years. Additional benefits will include $600 million investment to the area and $5.7 million in property taxes per year during the build out phase. 15% of the market rate units will be designated affordable with two-thirds of the units being on-site.

Phase I will take two years to complete and will comprise two residential apartment buildings with 312 apartments, 37,000-sq.-ft. of ground floor retail and 200 underground parking spaces. It will also include 12,000-sq.-ft. air rights deck and landscaped pedestrian walkway over Yawkey Station between Beacon St. and Yawkey Station.

Fenway Center is designed to be a model for smart growth, transit and sustainable energy oriented development respecting the urban grid, replacing a large surface parking lot and filling in existing space between long, wind-swept bridges with new buildings and retail amenities along Beacon Street and Brookline Avenue. The buildings are arranged so that the taller buildings are located adjacent to Yawkey Station, serving as an architectural marker and gateway, while the smaller buildings are scaled down in respect to the Audubon Circle neighborhood and Fenway Park area.

The general contractor for Fenway Center is John Moriarty & Associates. Construction for Phase I will commence in December 2017 and is slated to be completed by the beginning of 2020. The Architectural Team, Inc. located in Chelsea, MA is the architecture firm for Fenway Center and the interior design firm is Planeta Design Group of Boston. Construction lenders for Fenway Center are Sun Trust Bank and Union Labor Life Insurance Company.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2016, JLL had revenue of $6.8 billion and fee revenue of $5.8 billion and, on behalf of clients, managed 4.4 billion square feet, or 409 million square meters, and completed sales acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $145 billion. At the end of the third quarter of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 80,000. As of September 30, 2017, LaSalle Investment Management had $59.0 billion of real estate under asset management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit ir.jll.com.

About Gerding Edlen

Gerding Edlen is a leading real estate investment, development and asset and property management firm recognized for its expertise in creating and owning highly sustainable, urban infill, office, residential and mixed-use properties. Founded in 1996, the firm engages a socially responsible approach to real estate by cultivating properties that strengthen communities, minimize impact on the environment and add profound value to residents and tenants. Gerding Edlen's efforts are guided by a set of criteria, known as the Principles of Place, where community plays a pivotal role alongside design, technology and sustainability in the success of their properties. This commitment has led the firm to become a recognized national leader of sustainable development, which includes more than 75 LEED certified or certified pending properties.

About Meredith Management

Meredith is a full service, second generation real estate development and management company with over 60 years of experience and a reputation for building quality residential and commercial communities. Creating community and enhancing value through innovative development and attentive management are the pillars of Meredith's business philosophy. Founded in 1951, Meredith is a second-generation family owned real estate development and management business. Meredith has developed, owned and managed over 3,000 apartments, 5,000 condominiums and 5 million square feet of commercial space.

About TH Real Estate

TH Real Estate, an affiliate of Nuveen (the investment manager of TIAA), is one of the largest real estate investment managers in the world with $107bn in AUM. Managing a suite of funds and mandates spanning both debt and equity across diverse geographies, sectors, investment styles and vehicle types, we provide access to every aspect of real estate investing. With over 80 years of investing experience, and more than 500 real estate professionals located in over 20 cities throughout the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific, the platform offers unparalleled geographic reach, which is married with deep sector expertise.​